Two Types of Mourning!

Day 11 Matthew 5:4


 “Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.”

This seems somewhat strange if we accept the meaning of “happy” for the word “blessed”. Mourning isn’t normally associated with blessedness. So, let’s take a shot at what that might mean. Remember that Jesus is paradoxically comparing what the world considers “happiness” to what can be considered a blessed because of the reality of the “in-breaking” in the kingdom.  There are generally two interpretations what this means. First, is natural mourning as when someone we love dies. The key in this would be that they shall be comforted. While a funeral can be very sad, a Christian can be comforted by knowing their loved one is now in heaven and free from suffering. They are comforted by the promise, “Because Jesus lives, so we too shall live!”  The other is a mourning over our sinfulness, in relation to God’s holiness and righteousness. When we are sad over sin and repent, we are filled with the comfort that comes when we receive the grace of God in Christ Jesus. So, in sense, we are blessed if we mourn over our sin, because it leads us to the grace of God.  Where are you mourning a loss in your life? Receive the comforting words of the Holy Spirit and assurance that God loves you always.

Jesus, you were a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. As we mourn and suffer we can be comforted by the fact that you are always with us and share in our sorrows.  In Your name, Amen. 

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